Stalk-cutter.



F. A. McNALLY.

STALK CUTTER.

v APPLICATION FILED JAN.5. 1915.

1,201,065. Patented Oct. 10,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITTNESSESI INVENTUR mmamzg A TTURNE Y mr mmms 1 2mm co.. Pmnoumo" WASNINGI'ON n. c.

F. A. McNALLY.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED !AN.5. 1915.

' 1,201,065. Patented Oct. 10,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/TTNESSESZ INVENTOR FAMaJmm m1 NURPHS PETERS co PHOID Lmm WASNINlimN. n. c

F. A. McNALLY.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1915.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET .3.

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unrran srA'rEs PATENT armor.

FRANK A. McNALLY, or DALLAs, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR or ONE-THIRD T0 H. M. GARDNER AND ONE-THIRD 'ro H. n. GARDNER, BOTH or DALLAS, rEx s.

STALK-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application filed. January 5, 1915. Serial No. 563.

To all whom it m rzy concern Be it known that I, FRANK A. McNALLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to that class or type of cutting machines known as stalk cutters in which the wheels of the vehicle carrying the cutters furnish, when the vehicle is driven, the motive power for revolving the cutter shafts and cutters. In such connection the present invention relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of the cutting mechanism, the power transmitting mechanism connecting the wheels of the vehicle with the cutter shafts, and the cutter knives and means for securing the same to the cutter shafts.

One of the main objects of my present invention is to provide a series of depending cutter shafts, operated by the wheels of the vehicle, each of said shafts carrying a plurality of cutter knives arranged and turnin in a plurality of horizontal planes to cut the stalk into a plurality of pieces, the knives of successive plaiies projecting at varying angles with respect to each other.

A second object of my invention is to provide in a corn stalk cutter a series of depending cutter shafts and cutter knives in a plurality of planes and varying angles carried by each of said shafts, the cutter shafts and cutters being so arranged that the cutters on one shaftrevolve in planes staggered with relation to the planes of revolution of the cutters on adjacent cutter shafts.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a cutting blade of improved construction and to provide an improved means for fastening or securing said blade to its shaft. I

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully explained in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top or plan view of astalk cutter embodying main features of my invention-the shield inclosing the working parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the same, the shield being broken away to more clearly disclose the cutter shafts and operating mechanism therefor. Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the machine. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged views respectively in elevation and in plan of the knife, showing the same connected with the cutter shaft, and Fig.6 is a side elevational view enlarged of the clamp for locking the knife to the cutter shaft.

Referring to the drawings 1-1 represent the traction wheels of the stalk cutter and 2-2 represent the shafts or axles to which said wheels are secured. Each axle 2 has an inner bearing or support 3 in the lower end of a bracket or arm 4 and the two brackets 4; are connected firmly together at their upper ends by the cross-piece 5. Upon a platform 5 projecting forwardly from said crosspiece 5 is mounted in any suitable manner, the seat 6 for the driver of the vehicle.

, Above the cross-piece 5 and below the seat 6 is arranged the power shaft 7 to which are splined or otherwise slidably secured, at suitable distances apart, the miter gears 8. The power shaft 7 turns in bearings 9 'formed in bracket arms 10 projecting upward from and supported rigidly by the cross-piece 5. 'This shaft 7 is arranged parallel with and preferably in the same vertical plane as the axles 2 and cross-piece 5. The miter gears 8 may be shifted back and forth upon the shaft 7 to which they are feathered or splined by means of the clutch collars 11 engaged by the forked end of the clutch arms 12.

A rod 13, sliding in bearings 14:, carried by cross-piece 5, is adapted to be shifted to right or left as occasion demands by means of the bell crank lever 15 operated by the hand lever 16 by the operator in seat 6. The bell crank lever 15 has its fulcrum in platform 5 and the handle 16 with its ratchet control 17 are also supported upon said platform as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Below the cross-piece 5 and suitably supported by braces 18 extendin from the axle brackets 4 is a crossrod 19 forming one of the bearings for a series of vertically disposed cutter shafts 20. These shafts 2O traverse the cross piece 5 and have bearings 21 arranged in the upper face of said cross piece 5. The bearings 21 on cross piece 5' gcutter knives 27-; the construction and, ar-

any suitable, means.

and corresponding bearings 22 on cross rod 19 arerpre erably ball bearings of any well known type; Above the upper bearings 21 and upon the shafts 20 are fixed the miter geai 's' 23, 'so arranged that when the positiyely driven miter gears 8 of power shaft 1 7 are shifted in one direction, say from right to left in Fig. 1 the said positively driven gears 8 will mesh With gears 23 to positively drivethe 'cutter shafts 20. A reverse movement of gears 8-on shaft 7 will free said gears from the cutter shaft gears 28- and' said shafts 20 will cease to revolve :-;or rotate. -Eac h cutter shaft 20 in machine cured to the shaft 20 by bolts 25. To the polygonal sleeves 24} and 26 are secured the rangement of which togetherwith the mannerofand means for fastening the same to the shafts 20 form important' features of thepresent invention. a V

Referring now to Figsht, 5 and 6 wherein the construction and arrangement of the knives and the means andmanner of securing the same to the cutter shaft are illustrated in detail, it will be observed that reach knife 27 is provided with a flat shank 5O averse opening 33 extending knife blade 29 is curved drawings,

28 and a curved blade 29. formed by twisting the knife blank as at 29 until the edge of the knife blade 29 projects in a plan at right angles to the face of the shank 28. The to form virtually a sickle or a scythe blade. A yoke-shaped clamp 30. has its two wings 31 vertically slotted as at 82 to receive and interlock with the polygonal sleeve 24 or 26. Where said :sleeves are hexagonal as illustrated in the drawings, the slots or 31 are hexagonal. with more or less sides, then the slots 32 correspond. The yoke-clamp 30 has a translongitudinally beyond the sleeves in both directions. When the clamp 30 is slid in on sleeve 24: or 26 there is formed adjacent to the body of said clamp 30- a. transverse slotinto which the shank 28 recesses 82 in wings of the knife may be inserted to rest more or lessfirmly upon a fiat face of the sleeve 24: 01:26 inclosed by the winged members of the clamp. A set screw 34 serves to press the shank '28 of the knife firmly to the jSlBGVQ and thereby not only looks said knife to thercutter shaft but also locks the clamp against vertical movement upon the polygonal sleeve. 7 7

Where as in the construction shown in the each cutter shaft is hexagonal it follows that each shaft 20isprovided with 6 If the sleeves are formed of one shaft cooperating knives. Each knife is secured to and projectsfrom a different side of the hexagon and each knife is arranged on its shaft some distance from the next succeeding or preceding knife in series. Y

In-the drawings I have shown a machine provided with four cutter shafts since the machine is designed to out two rows of stalks. F or each row of stalks a pair of cutter shafts is necessary. Thus infFig; 2 for. instance the first and second cutter shafts (from right to left) cooperate to cut one row of stalks whereas the third and fourth cutter shafts coiiperate to cut the second row of stalks. Considering but one pair of cutter shafts it will be observed that the first or top knife of the. first cutter shaft I cooperates with the first or top knife of the second shaft to cut throughthe stalk at one point above the. ground and that succeeding knives in series on the first shaft likewise cooperate with corresponding knives in series of the second shaft to out said stalks at other points accidental breaking of'a knife it is a simple matter to unloosen set screw 34 withdrawv the damaged lfiiife and replace with a new knife.

by means of an ordinary chain 35. and sprocket 36, mechanism well known in the art.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention what I claim as new, is

1. In a machine of the character described a pair of depending cutter shafts and means for rotating the same, a series of single cutter blades projecting from. each shaft at varying angles and each turning in a plane separate from the plane in which the other blades rotate, the blades in series with corresponding blades of the other shaft to cut the stalk by a scissor-like operation.

2. In a machine of the character described, a series of depending cutter shafts arranged to cooperate in pairs, each cutter. shaft being provided with a series ofsingle cutter blades, means for securing each blade to the shaft at a point above or below the succeeding or preceding blade in series,

above the ground, in other: wordsthe stalk, where SIX knives 1n each.

Power is transmitted from axle 2 to shaft scribed, a cutter shaft, a sleeve polygonal in cross section secured to said shaft, a yoke shaped clamp having wings traversed by and interlocking with said sleeve, and a cutter blade having a shank arranged to be secured to a face of said sleeve by said 10 clamp. f

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK A. McNALLY. Witnesses:

G. SCHU M, R. E. C. BR cKNnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of htente, Washington, D. 0. 

